Sulfonated Poly (Ether Ether Ketone)-Based Composite Proton-Exchange Membrane for Energy Production

Abstract

The preparation of a proton-conducting membrane from Sulponated Poly Ether Ether Ketone (SPEEK), tungsto phosphoric acid (TPA), and inorganic fillers such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) was prepared and the electrochemical and mechanical properties were investigated with regards to its application in energy production. The role of tungsto phosphoric acid is to minimize water assistance at elevated temperatures, which led to a decrease in mechanical strength. The fabricated membranes were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, and SEM techniques. This work may efficiently serve as a basis for new projects as many aspects need to be investigated further. First, it would be interesting to devote a study to the direct comparison of the different fillers of side-chain poly ether ether ketone in order to elucidate the exact morphological features of these membranes, especially in the swollen state.